Don’t mind missing foreign leagues: Yuvraj Singh on comeback to domestic cricket

One of the greatest all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has decided to come out of retirement for his home team Punjab. This return from retirement will bring restrictions on playing franchise based foreign leagues.

After the announcement, Yuvi was able to get No Objection Certificate (NOC) to play the Global T20 Canada and Abu Dhabi T10 tournament.

Reportedly, Yuvraj’s manager Jason Warne of W Sports and Media and Cricket Australia (CA) is working out a way to find Yuvraj a club for the upcoming T20 tournament — Big Bash League (BBL), commencing from December 3.

Meanwhile, Yuvi said that he was ready to let go of opportunities at foreign leagues to play at domestic circuit for his state. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) doesn’t allow active players to participate in foreign leagues.

“I will obviously have to concentrate on Punjab. In any case, I can’t play the foreign leagues according to BCCI rules and I don’t mind it. My priority is to help Punjab,” Yuvraj told Sporstar magazine.

Reportedly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is uncertainty over the start of the domestic season as only Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 event and the Ranji Trophy are planned in 2020-21.

I will be a coach, mentor and a player: Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj said he wants to help Punjab win the domestic T20 title and mentor youngsters in the upcoming season.

PCA secretary Puneet Bali had approached Yuvraj with a request to come out of retirement.

The dashing left-handed batsman revealed on Wednesday that training sessions with players like Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh and Anmolpreet Singh at the PCA Stadium in Mohali made him realise that he was still connecting the ball well.

“I and Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh) made every effort to help Punjab win a title. It was hard work for both of us but things did not work. I was also not motivated to continue playing and that prompted me to retire.

“Now I think one can make an earnest effort to help Punjab win the T20 title. The team has some awesome talent and I am looking forward to contributing. You can’t play cricket all your life but T20 is a brand you can play till 45. I will give myself one season and take a call. I will be a coach, mentor and a player and want to do it for Punjab. It has given me so much,” Yuvraj said.

Also read: Yuvraj Singh may come out of retirement, writes to BCCI Chief Sourav Ganguly